Chapter 81
Since he intended to step into the fray openly as the head of the Smith Family, she would guard him from the shadows, as Noel.
The next morning, at the break of dawn, Jacob departed from Smith Manor in secret, accompanied by Leon and a few trusted men.
Before leaving, he stood by the car and turned to look back at Elizabeth, who was waiting on the grand steps of the entrance.
The early light spilled over her, tracing a soft, almost ethereal silhouette that seemed too beautiful to be real.
"Wait for me to come back," he said, his voice a low promise.
She smiled and nodded.
The car pulled away, its form shrinking until it vanished beyond the manor's gates.
Elizabeth remained on the steps, her gaze fixed on the point where the convoy had disappeared. The smile slowly faded from her face, replaced by an expression of cold, unyielding resolve.
She turned and went back to the bedroom, retrieving the encrypted communicator and opening a channel to Lynx.
"Get ready. I'm going to Riverside Hall," she said, her voice steady and firm. "As Noel. I'll need a boat for extraction after the auction. Also, mobilize all Nightfall members available in the nearby waters and have them infiltrate the cruise ship in advance. I want to ensure that no matter what happens, Jacob comes back alive."
"Understood, Noel," Lynx replied, then added a question. "And the clue at the auction?"
"I will get it." A frigid light glinted in Elizabeth's eyes. "Whether with money, or by other means."
She set down the communicator and walked to the wardrobe, pulling open a hidden compartment in its deepest recess.
Inside lay a set of gear belonging to Noel, untouched until now—a sleek black outfit designed for mobility, an exquisite mask to conceal her features, and a handgun, already calibrated to perfection.
She changed into the black attire, placing the mask in her handbag.
Following Elizabeth's command, the intricate machinery of the Nightfall organization whirred into motion.
Uri—the technical core of the group, who perpetually operated from behind the scenes and rarely showed his true face—made a rare decision to step into the light himself.
According to Elizabeth's plan, he would appear on the cruise ship as the leader of Nightfall, drawing all attention.
Elizabeth, meanwhile, would don a delicate silver half-mask that veiled her brows and eyes, leaving only the elegant lines of her lower face and her full, red lips exposed. She would attend as the leader's companion.
This deception would not only grant her the freedom to move about and observe the situation up close but also keep the real Noel safely concealed in the most secure of shadows.
The luxury cruise ship departed from the port as night fell, a floating palace of brilliant lights and decadent glamour adrift on the dark water.
The guests on board were a collection of socialites and magnates from every influential circle, their clinking glasses and polite conversation masking a relentless, unseen battle for power.
Elizabeth took Uri's arm and stepped onto the main deck.
He was dressed in a finely tailored dark gray suit and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his demeanor a perfect blend of scholarly refinement and detached aloofness—the ideal portrayal of a mysterious syndicate leader.
At his side, Elizabeth was a vision in a simple black gown, the silver mask catching the light with a cold sheen. The long, pale column of her neck was exposed, her posture elegant, and her stride poised, drawing more than a few appreciative glances.
Uri leaned in slightly, his voice a low whisper meant only for her. "Noel, three o'clock, Pacquiao's men. At eleven o'clock, a representative from the Moretti family. And a few new faces—they look like the people Sawyer brought over from Italy."
Elizabeth's gaze swept over the crowd without a flicker of overt interest, committing the faces and their positions to memory. She did not see Jacob. He likely hadn't arrived yet, or was already sequestered in a private area, waiting for the auction to begin.
"Lilith Moretti is also here," Uri added, a trace of almost imperceptible disgust in his tone.
Following his line of sight, Elizabeth saw her.
Lilith was draped in a floor-length gown the color of blood. Her makeup was immaculate, but it failed to conceal the haggard, frantic energy in her eyes.
She was speaking with several Italian men, her head jerking around intermittently as she scanned the room, as if searching for someone—or hiding from them.
As if sensing the scrutiny, Lilith's head snapped around, her eyes meeting Elizabeth's across the deck.
Elizabeth did not look away, her gaze behind the mask as placid as still water.
Lilith stared at her for a few seconds, her eyes lingering for a moment on the graceful curves of Elizabeth's body before shifting to Uri at her side. Lilith's pupils contracted slightly, and then a knowing, meaningful smirk curved her lips.
She abandoned her conversation and began to walk directly toward them.
"So this is the legendary leader of Nightfall?" Lilith stopped before Uri, her eyes raking over him with a mixture of appraisal and arrogance. "I've heard so much about you."
Uri gave a slight nod, his manner polite yet distant. "Ms. Moretti. A pleasure."
Lilith's gaze swept back to Elizabeth, sharp and critical, as if she were evaluating a piece of property.
Elizabeth, her arm linked with Uri's, remained perfectly relaxed, ignoring the invasive inspection.
Lilith's eyes returned to Uri, the smile vanishing from her face, replaced by a challenging expression. "Mr. Noah, I have a question for you."
Uri gestured for her to proceed.
Lilith lowered her voice, a flicker of venom in her eyes. "A few days ago, I placed a contract with your organization. The target was Jacob, the payment thirty million dollars. It was rejected. I want to know why. Was the money not enough, or has Nightfall already allied itself with the Smith Family?"
Behind her mask, the corner of Elizabeth's mouth lifted in an almost invisible, icy arc. The woman truly hadn't given up.
Uri's expression remained impassive. "You misunderstand, Ms. Moretti," he replied calmly.
"Nightfall has its own considerations and rules. We do not readily accept contracts for the assassination of a major power's leader, regardless of the price offered. It has nothing to do with an alliance with the Smith Family; it is simply a matter of risk assessment and a cost-benefit analysis."
Lilith's brow furrowed, clearly unsatisfied with the answer but unable to refute it.
Her gaze fell once more upon Elizabeth, her eyes traveling up and down her form before a self-satisfied smile bloomed on her face.
"And this is...?"
"My companion," Uri's tone was flat, yet it carried an undercurrent of protectiveness that was impossible to mistake.
Lilith's eyes lingered on Elizabeth's graceful figure, a suggestive smirk playing on her lips. "Mr. Noah certainly has fine taste. This young lady's figure is exquisite. If you have a penchant for beautiful women, I could send you a whole collection. The girls from Italy are passionate, fiery—far more flavorful than this cold sort of beauty."
Elizabeth acted as if she hadn't heard a word, her eyelashes not even fluttering.
Uri, however, frowned slightly, his voice turning colder. "Thank you for the offer, Ms. Moretti, but that won't be necessary. I'm a man of singular tastes."
Rebuffed, Lilith gave a hollow laugh. Then, as if remembering something else, a flash of anxiety crossed her face. "Well, Mr. Noah, since you rejected the contract, I trust your organization will maintain confidentiality regarding my request to have Jacob assassinated. That is part of your code, isn't it?"
Uri looked at her, his eyes calm and unreadable. "Nightfall has always prioritized client privacy. It is our fundamental principle. You can rest assured, Ms. Moretti."
Lilith let out a breath of relief, her arrogant demeanor returning instantly. "Good. I hope you enjoy your evening, Mr. Noah."
She cast one last, significant glance at Elizabeth before turning and swaying away into the crowd.
Uri leaned in again, his voice a low murmur. "That woman is hopelessly stupid."
Elizabeth hummed in agreement, her gaze following Lilith's retreating back until it was swallowed by the throng.
"She won't live much longer," Elizabeth said softly, her voice as cold as ice. "After tonight, I'll deal with her myself."
Uri gave a slight nod, saying nothing more.
Just then, a commotion erupted from the direction of the ship's gangway.